Going to look at a trailer, what to look for and haggling advice please

J

Jesstickle

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Further to my post of this morning,

I am going to look on Sunday hopefully. So, any handy hints about what to look out for (will be getting checked if it comes home with me by the trailer man but would rather not buy a total dud!)?

Also, I think the only way I'm going to get there this week end is going to involve me dealing with the OH of the seller. So how does haggling work? Can I do it on the phone before hand? Was planning on taking the cash with me and hopefully taking it away that day so was going to ask if I get a discount but am unsure if this is a)rude (I am not a good haggler by nature) and b) how this works if you end up going through someone else.

If that makes sense. I know it all sounds a bit complicated but I don't think it actually is. I think my question is this, is it ok to ask over the phone before hand what the best price is if I pay cash and remove on the day I look?

Sorry to be boring. I do tend to over analyse things somewhat :o
 
It actually isn't that far from you probably (see my wonderful sense of geography in action!). I should just send you to fetch it for me rather than go and borrow a parent's car and drive down! lol
 
When I sold my trailer, if someone had called and made me an offer without having seen it, I would have told them not to bother coming.

Make sure you take the cash and a vehicle capable of towing it away. If you cannot afford the trailer as it is advertised, don't go and look at it, because there is no guarantee they will be prepared to take an offer.

If you get there and it is damaged or the tyres are worn, or it is not as they described it. Make them an offer there and then and be prepared to say why you don't think it is worth what they are asking.

Make sure they can show providence of the trailer - ie make sure it isn't a stolen trailer before you pay for it, because otherwise you could get a nasty knock on the door one day, and saying you didn't realise it was stolen, won't stop the police taking it away from you.
 
There are some dreadful trailers out there, best to take someone who knows what they are doing with you.

If you are going to do it yourself, its does depend to some extent on what trailer, but I always do the following.

First have a walk round it, look for any obvious damage, I have seen a few with crumpled panels in the past.

Then drop both the ramps, you will tell immediately the condition of the ramp springs, also do the fastenings work properly.

Then look inside, is the partition secure, is it easy to move over and adjust.

Then stand in front of each axle and check that the wheels are straight and in line with each other, check all 4 tyres for wear. Out of line axles will wear one side of the tyres more than the other. Check the spare and that the jocket wheel works and fastens up securely.


If all the above is OK then its worth looking harder, if not walk away before you have to crawl on the floor.

Then check the floor. Lift the rubber mat, if its wood have a screwdriver, if it goes in easily the wood is rotten. The bits to go first are usually around the rear ramp, then the front ramp. If its OK then do the same underneath. Next check the condition of the ramps, floors are easier to replace than ramps.

I would then ask for it to be hooked up. Check the hitch, they have wear lines. Connect and test the electrics. Put the handbrake on and try to push it gently, if the brakes work you will be able to see. Ask to take it for a drive, if its bouncing back and forward into you then the dampers have gone. When you get back feel the wheels, if they are hot then the brakes are sticking on.

If there are any major faults come home and check whether parts are available and how much it would cost.

If at the end of all of this you want it. Dont negotiate on the phone, wait till you have checked it out. Your offer might depend its condition, if it is fault free you would offer closer to the asking price than if there are a few faults.

Dont slag it off but point out the faults to the seller. There is nothing wrong with making your first offer low, just be prepared to up it. Have in mind what you think its worth first though.

I have offered half the asking price in the past, but then the seller hadn't mentioned things like it needing a new floor.
 
BigRed said:
When I sold my trailer, if someone had called and made me an offer without having seen it, I would have told them not to bother coming.

Make sure you take the cash and a vehicle capable of towing it away. If you cannot afford the trailer as it is advertised, don't go and look at it, because there is no guarantee they will be prepared to take an offer.

If you get there and it is damaged or the tyres are worn, or it is not as they described it. Make them an offer there and then and be prepared to say why you don't think it is worth what they are asking.

Make sure they can show providence of the trailer - ie make sure it isn't a stolen trailer before you pay for it, because otherwise you could get a nasty knock on the door one day, and saying you didn't realise it was stolen, won't stop the police taking it away from you.
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Well, it's listed on ebay (which is how I found it) so I expect people are going to make offers without viewing. And it's a best offer auction which leads me to believe they are at least open to offers :confused:

Hence not really knowing how to proceed. I can go and look on Sunday but the owner won't be there, only her OH so how do I make an offer after looking at it?

I can make the offer through ebay and wait for it to be accepted when she gets back in the evening but that means going back again to pick it up and I'd rather not if I don't have to. Does any of this make any sense at all?

ETS: I would go back for it if necessary of course, it would just be a pain and cost me another £50 diesel!

ETS (again) I'm taking OH rockysmum and he's better than me and will have half a clue at what he's looking at but I like to know too. That's really helpful advice, thank you for taking the time to type it all out for me :)
 
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